Bazemore spark helps Old Dominion past Howard 53-43

NORFOLK — Among Kent Bazemore's many roles for Old Dominion's basketball team this season are security blanket and electrician.

The CAA preseason Player of the Year and most experienced Monarch was a spectator for almost the first 22 minutes of a forgettable display from his teammates against Howard, as he continues to recuperate from foot surgery.

When Bazemore entered early in the second half, his impact was immediate and evident. Buoyed by his presence more than his production, the Monarchs finally gained some traction and sped past Howard 53-43 Wednesday at the Ted.

"I was on the sidelines burning on the inside, just ready to get out there," Bazemore said. "I just go in there and play hard and my teammates follow suit.

"That's one thing we do need is to play hard."

Bazemore, the 6-foot-5 senior, played nine valuable minutes and ignited a 23-4 run that gave ODU (2-1) the lead and some breathing room.

He handed out two assists, had a steal and a block against the Bison's 6-10 Alphonso Leary.

"The first half was kind of slow," Bazemore said. "Even in warmups, the guys were a little bit … dormant.

"If I can provide a spark, then hey, that's what I do for right now until I get healthy."

Said Howard coach Kevin Nickelberry, "When No. 24 came off the bench, he might not score a point, but his presence alone creates problems."

Nickelberry, the former head coach at Hampton University, brought a young team that included five players from Hampton Roads to face an ODU squad playing its third game in five days to open the season.

Both teams slogged through a first half in which Howard (1-2) took a 20-15 lead. The Monarchs had six field goals, 10 turnovers and didn't hit double figures until the 3:43 mark.

"That first half would have scared a bulldog off a gut wagon," ODU coach Blaine Taylor said. "It was ugly."

Marquel De Lancey scored all 11 of his points in the second half. Center Chris Cooper scored 11 of his game-high 13 points — he also led with 10 rebounds — and played much better post defense against Leary in the second half, while his mates on the perimeter were more attentive and energetic on defense.

Dimitri Batten hit 3-pointers on consecutive possessions midway through the second half — ODU's only 3-pointers — that pushed the lead to 36-26.

Howard briefly pulled within six on a couple of Anton Dickerson treys, but Cooper scored six points during a 10-1 run that clinched it.

The Monarchs made 14 of 21 shots and held a 10-rebound edge in the second half.

"We did some good stuff," Taylor said, "but most of it was just being a little bit smarter, a little more together. I thought the guys in the game settled in and then I thought 'Baze' — 'Baze' doesn't fill up the stat sheet, but had a settling influence with the group out there.

"We kind of clicked when we went from a little bit behind to a little bit ahead, and that was an important juncture."